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EDM #36: Draw out in public

Jack and I went to draw on 6th Avenue in the Village, sitting on the steps of a sandwich shop to draw the Jefferson Market library. I began with what one could charitably call preparatory sketches but which I refer to as false starts or disasters. I was just not seeing the whole and was locked into tiny details of the tower. So I tried doing a quick contour drawing (in the lower left), just following the edges of the building without looking at my page, and that began to feel like the way to go.

I drew the whole building in under ten minutes, barely looking at the paper. Then back in my studio added some gouache to the sky and some watercolor to add dimension. I’m pretty happy with the results and surprised I got here from where I started, It has a nice rickety, energized feeling that captures my inner state.

From the drawings you have done in the last week, this one is my favorite. I think it’s great because you did not allow much time to think about it. I love this one! The gouache you added later also makes the drawing better. Better than the mono color background of the false start.

This is impressive for many aspects. First of all the false starts can be also considered as a mental warm up. The second thing that impress me a lot that you unlinked all your left brain to achieve that results so sketching with barely looking to the paper. I defintevely love that.

Finally the eye and the hand manage very well without us, without our too precise observations. when we let wander our ideas and our glance, a lightness gives to lines all the fluidity which they need to feel comfortable on our pages! And even if we already know all this, there are nevertheless days when the gesture is heavier without to know why… I do not like these days, I wonder then if I am still capable to draw, to look, to see, to photograph, to write, to feel, to understand… But when I see your drawings, the result obtained after “the laborious beginning” which you describe, I say to myself that it is important in these moments to continue, to insist and everything finds its place. And that’s why, beyond the drawing itself, I think that it is a very beautiful message. Thank you for that !